Dubai: Final touches are being given to the first elevated station for the Dubai Metro on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Motorists on the busy highway can now see a shell-shaped station near Jebel Ali Industrial area. This is the first station which got ready for the trial run of the trains which are now running on an 11-km test track between the Jebel Ali and the Ibn-Batutta Station..
There will be a total of 47 stations for the Dubai Metro including two transfer underground stations - one at the Union Square in Deira, which is the largest one in terms of size and the Bur Juman Station in Bur Dubai, which is the deepest one at 30metres from the ground level.
At the transfer stations, the Red and the Green lines will cross each other and passengers will be able to transfer between trains
Interiors of the stations are uniquely designed by adopting themes based on one of the four elements of nature: Water, Air, Fire and Earth.
There will be a total of 12 Earth themed stations, 13 Water themed stations, 11 Air themed stations and 11 Fire themed stations.
Te design of the exterior of the elevated stations is a unique shell-shaped roof which invokes the heritage of pearl diving - an integral part of Dubai's history.
Key objectives of the stations' architectural designs are public safety and security, clear and simple planning with minimal travel distances.
Hi-tech facilities
Brightly lit concourses and walkways covered with beautifully laid slip-resistant reconstituted stones according to design themes.
- Escalators and stairs to get from the concourse to the platform level
- Lifts for special need people
- Ramps for the wheelchair bound
- Clear signage directing to different areas of the station
- Public announcement system (PA)
- A tactile guidance path for the visually challenged people
- Modern ticket vending machines that dispenses single/return trip tickets
- Ticketing gates that have provisions for normal, disabled, and persons with big luggage
- Ticket agent offices
- CCTV cameras to monitor strategic areas of the station
- Platform screen doors that prevent passengers falling of the platform edge
- Emergency call point-s for passengers to alert station personnel regarding an incident
- Fully air conditioned concourse and platform areas
- Benches/seats while waiting for the train
- Specialised lighting that creates a soothing ambience
- Spaces for small retail and vendor kiosks for drinks and amenities
- Fully air conditioned concourses at the ground level entrance pods with seating to wait for bues
- Dedicated taxi lay-bys for taxis for pickup and drop off
- Bicycle lanes and racks for temporary storage
- Provisions for interchanging with future metro lines and the Al Safouh Tram
- Parking areas for drive and ride passengers
- All elevated stations have pedestrian bridges to cross roads while the underground stations have pedestrian underpasses
Types of stations
There are three types of stations
A typical, whether elevated, at grade or underground, consist of three levels while an interchange station has four levels.
Type I Elevated Station: 3 levels
- Concourse at ground level
- Mezzanine consisting of mechanical rooms
- Two side Platforms on level 3
- Average size from 1,800sqm
Type II Elevated Station: 2 levels
- Concourse above ground at level 2
- Two side Platforms on level 3
- Size 1,600sqm
Type III: elevated station: 3 levels
- Concourse at ground level
- Mezzanine consisting of mechanical rooms
- Two side platforms on level 3 and one extra line for parking and repair of extra train
- Average size 1,900sqm
Typical Underground stations: 3 levels
- Concourse at basement 1
- Intermediate level consisting of mechanical rooms
- Two side Platforms level at basement 3
Interchange Underground Station at BurJjuman
- Concourse at basement 1
- Intermediate level consisting of mechanical rooms
- 2 side Platforms level at basement 3 (Green Line)
- 2 side Platforms level at basement 4 (Red Line)
